The Best Computer Care and Repair - Anywhere!

We can fix your computer while you watch. You never have to leave your home. Just sit back, relax, and watch us work. Get PC service from folks you trust at the best prices you'll find anywhere.

Get more information here.

JP wants to know what to do if his computer crashes
This is a question that we old-timers might ask.  I had a bad dream the other night that my computer crashed and I was lost in what to do next since I wouldn't be able to get in touch for your help.  It is my only connection to the internet in my apartment. My mind goes blank.  Could you suggest what steps I could take to restore my computer? Do I  bring it to the repair shop in the hope they can fix the problem, or do I trash it and get another computer?  Thanks.\

Our answer
Hi JP. We've written a complete guide of what you can do if your computer crashes -  you have several options and they are all included in our guide which you can read and print by visiting this page.

Please let me know if you need more help or have more questions.

Leslie S. has questions about her passwords and Chrome's password manager
Well, I'm finally scared enough to use a password manager and no longer want to rely on Chrome's password manager to keep me safe.  But I'm old and have lost 90% of my patience.  I have so many password-protected sites.  Do I have to change them all?  Is there some universal "magic wand" that will go through my Chrome password manager and do it for me?   If it's just a site I've used for free knitting patterns and has no financial information attached do I still have to change the password?

I've got the sites for Bitwarden, RoboForm and LastPass.  I mainly use my laptop but there are times I also need to use my Android phone.

Tell me true, TC & Darcy.  Do I just have to bite the bullet and go through every site on my Chrome password manager list and do it?  Or can I just use my Chrome password manager and let it assign everything a unique password instead of using my 5 or 6 usual choices?

Our answer
Hi Leslie. The problem with storing passwords in Chrome is that, by default, they're not protected by a master password. Anyone with access to your computer can access your Chrome passwords.  So, it would be best to use a password manager. And since Bitwarden (free) works on both Windows and Android, we recommend using Bitwarden.

Bitwarden makes it easy to change your passwords in a timely fashion. But only passwords that protect highly personal information, bank accounts, financial institutions, online shopping sites, credit card sites, and sites that deal with sensitive info or money, need to be changed every few months. Passwords for sites that don't ask for any sensitive information don't need to be changed often.

It's easy to export your passwords from Chrome and import them into Bitwarden. Here's how:

'

First: Export Passwords from Chrome

 

Open Chrome. Type  chrome://settings/passwords in the address bar & press Enter.

Click the three dots in the top right corner and select "Export Passwords".

Confirm: You might need to re-enter your system password (or PIN).

Save the password file: Choose a location where you want to save the CSV file containing all your Chrome saved passwords and save it.

Import Your Passwords Into Bitwarden

 Log in to your Bitwarden account at https://vault.bitwarden.com/#/login

 

Navigate to the "Tools" section.

 

Select "Import Data".

 

Scroll down to File Format and choose Chrome.csv

 

Click on "Choose file" (button) and select the CSV file you exported from Chrome.

 

Next, click on the blue "Import Data" button to import all your Google Chrome passwords into your Bitwarden vault.

 

Do not delete the Chrome.csv file that you exported from Chrome until you are sure everything was imported correctly into your Bitwarden vault.

 

And that's all there is to it, Leslie. Hope this helps you.

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Reg Organizer - A Swiss Army Knife of Windows Tools - Works Great on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Control Active Windows Using Your Keyboard
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Some shortcuts make managing windows quicker and easier. For instance,  you can quickly switch between your email, browser, e-mail, graphic programs, messenger, and other programs without using your mouse or touchpad. 

Here are a few of them:

Minimize a window to your taskbar
With the window you want to minimize in focus (on top) press ALT + SPACEBAR + N (in sequence)

Maximize a window so it takes up your whole desktop
With the window you want to maximize in focus (on top) press Alt + SPACEBAR + X (in sequence)

Switch to the last window you had open
Hold down ALT, then click TAB key

Switch to any open program/window
While holding down the ALT key, press TAB key until the window you want is visible/on top

Close a window
With the window you want to close in focus (on top), hold down the ALT key and tap F4

Restore a window so it’s visible but does not take up your whole desktop
ALT + SPACEBAR + R (in sequence)

If you use these shortcuts often you’ll know them by heart and they will save you time. If you don’t use them often you’ll forget them, but at least now you know they exist.

An Updated Guide to Buying a New Computer on a Budget
Everyone shopping for a new computer

One of the most frequent questions we are asked is: “What should I look for in a new computer?” And we know all too well that if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, computer shopping can be a daunting task… almost as bad as buying a car from a surly smiling salesman chomping on a cigar.

Buying a new computer can quickly turn into a deep money pit if you go to a computer store and run into a 20-something salesperson who is hyper-selling and bombarding you with technical terms you don’t understand (and he or she probably doesn’t either). And telling you that you won’t be happy with the computer model “A” for $499… but for an extra $250, the computer model “B” is what you need. Then they’ll try to sell you a service package for another couple hundred that you don’t need.

No e-cig-puffing-20-something-geek-speaking salespeople here! Just old TC and Darcy trying to save you money and give you some good advice.

We prepared this guide for those of you thinking about buying a new Windows 10 computer. Computer prices are still down a bit right now – so it’s a good time to buy.  But you have to know in advance what you’re looking for – and what you need – if you want to avoid being “upsold” by a yammering pseudo-techie salesperson.

This guide is for average computer users – those of you who use your computer mainly for browsing the Web, emailing, having fun with graphics, using Facebook, Zoom or Teams, Tik-Tokking, YouTubing., chatting, emailing, browsing the web, etc. That is this is a guide for most of you. 

If you’re into very high-end gaming or high-resolution 3D rendering or if you work with exceptionally large databases or CAD drawings, your needs will certainly be different.

Here’s our updated computer shopping guide

1.) Consider a laptop Instead of a desktop or an all-in-one computer

At one time laptops were expensive and underpowered, but not anymore. Laptops have the same features and as much or more power as desktops and all-in-ones, with one big advantage: You’re not tethered to one spot in your home.  And right now, you can get great deals on fast, reliable laptops. You can generally get a laptop for less than an equivalent desktop or all-in-one.

2.) RAM RAM RAM (aka Memory)

In real estate, it’s location, location, location. And with computers, it’s RAM, RAM, RAM!

Generally speaking, and forgoing the geek-speak, the more memory your computer has, the faster it will run. OK, we’re generalizing. But the more RAM your computer has, the more you can do with your computer – and the more responsive your PC will be. You’ll see a lot of low-end computers with 4 GB of RAM, but unless you’re planning on doing very little or no multitasking at all, you’re not going to be happy with a computer with only 4 GB of RAM.

We suggest that you look for a computer with at least 8 GB of RAM, if you can afford it, 12 or 16GB of RAM will give you much better performance.

3.) Three computers with 16 GB of under $500 (as of 8/22/24)

Here are 3 laptops, all with 16 GB of RAM, 15″ (or larger) displays, good processors, and at least a 512 GB solid-state hard drive with price tags under $500. I would be happy with any of these computers and I do this for a living.

HP Laptop, 15.6″ screen, 16 GB of RAM AMD Ryzen 5 5500U (Beats i7-11370H), 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, Thin & Portable, Micro-Edge & Anti-Glare Screen, Long Battery Life, Windows 11 $405.00 as of 8/14/24

Lenovo Ideapad 3i 15.6″ FHD Touchscreen Business Laptop Computer, 11th Intel Dual-Core i3-1115G4, Intel UHD Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro $459.71 (as of 8/14/24 when purchased online).

Dell 2023 Newest Inspiron 15 3525 Laptop, 15.6″ FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor up to 4GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, AMD Radeon Graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Windows 11 Home $469.85 (as of 8/14/2024).

Just a few years ago, these laptops would have been in the $650-$800 price range. If you have to cut corners to meet your budget, cut corners on hard drive size or processor type, not RAM. The amount of RAM your new computer has is your most important consideration.

4.) Hard drive: SSD or HDD?

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are getting cheaper. It’s getting harder to find new computers with older HDD drives. SSDs last longer and are much faster than HHDs. Because SSDs have no moving parts, they should last longer than HDDs. All the laptops listed above have solid-state hard drives.

5.) Processor

Your processor is the brain and heart of your PC. But if you’re an average computer user, and just using your computer to do the things we mentioned at the beginning of this article, then the kind of processor or the speed of your processor, will not be a major consideration for you.

Most lower-priced computers are going to have AMD processors and there’s nothing wrong with that. If that new computer you’re looking at doesn’t say “Intel inside”, don’t worry about it. Most of us would never know the difference between an AMD and an Intel processor unless you are a benchmarking freak- but you’re not, are you? Intel or AMD?

If you’re a typical PC user, the processor brand won’t matter to you. Any computer you buy running Windows 11 will have a processor that is adequate to run Windows 11. You’re going to want at least a dual-core processor that runs at 1.6 GHz or faster. But when it comes down to buying a PC by brand or type of processor or the amount of RAM it has – you should choose the one with the most RAM.

6.) Screen size (display size)

Size matters? Yes, it does – kind of. We have laptops with 15.6″ screens. They work great for all the things we do. The laptops with smaller screens are easier to tote around, they’re smaller and lighter. So, if you’re going to be traveling or moving around with your laptop, you might want to opt for the smaller screen.

Screen size, though, is a personal choice. Choose the screen size that you like best and that suits the way you use your computer. You probably won’t want anything smaller than a 15″ display.

If you’re going for an all-in-one or desktop PC, the same applies. Get the screen size that works best for you.  Most often the smaller the screen size the less expensive the computer.

Touchscreens: Touchscreens are nice. I have a 15.6″ touchscreen laptop and a laptop without a touchscreen  I like both.  Computers with touchscreens are usually more expensive than computers without touchscreens. If you want a touchscreen it will cost you a bit more.

7.) Computer brands

The brand name of the computer you buy is not one of the most important considerations. Most brands you recognize should be fine. Some people hate certain brands because they have had trouble with that particular brand in the past. However, all brands have good and bad reviews.  HP, Dell, Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo all have their fans and their detractors.

We’re not going to recommend one brand over another. All brands can be good, and all brands can be bad. It depends on who you ask. If you have used a brand in the past that you’ve been happy with, then buy that brand again – but only if the price fits your budget. Try to be “brand-blind”.  Don’t be afraid to try any of the other major brands.

8.) Windows 11 Home or Professional?

Very few home users are going to need the additional features of Windows 11 Professional. Besides the fact that computers that come with Windows 11 Pro cost, on average, at least $100 more. But not always. Do your research and compare prices. Don’t be tempted to buy something from BestBuy because you think they’ll take care of you after the sale – they will after they stick you with a service agreement that you don’t need.

Do you want a computer that runs fast, or do you want a computer that has BitLocker and GPE (Group Policy Editor) and other features you’ll probably never use? Windows 11 Home will be just fine for most of you.

9.) A lot of choices

If you’re on a budget, you’ll have to make choices.  That’s OK – there are a lot of computers to choose from.  You’re going to have to choose between screen sizes and touchscreens or now. You’re going to have to choose between SSD (Solid State Drives) or HDD (regular hard drives). You’re going to have to choose between the faster SSD drives with (generally) less space or HDD, which are slower but have (usually) more space. SSDs are getting less expensive so if you have a choice between HDD and SSD, choose the SSD.

You’ll have choices to make: Intel or AMD processors, processors, speeds, computer brands, and memory or RAM. In our opinion, RAM is the most important consideration.  If you buy a computer with inadequate RAM, your computer will be slow and multi-tasking difficult, and none of the other things will matter. And the only way you can make a computer that has inadequate RAM faster is by adding more RAM.

Get a computer with as much RAM as you can afford!  

We have been using Windows for 27 years and remember the days of 540 MB (MB not GB!) hard drives and RAM that was measured in megabytes, not gigabytes.

A typical PC in the year that the much-exalted Windows XP was released had a 2 GB hard drive and 1 GB or less of RAM. And let’s talk price. Even cheap, low-end PCs in those days cost $700 or more. And laptops cost well over $1000.

We’ve come a long way since then. Shop around. You’ll find great deals if you spend some time and look around. Most of you would find any of the computers we listed above more than adequate for your needs. If you take your time and shop carefully, you can find a PC that does everything you need it to do at a price that fits your budget.

And finally, you should know…

Nope… we don’t make a commission on any of the computers mentioned in this article. We listed computers we would consider buying if we were shopping for a laptop that we knew would perform well.

And this is why we’re broke. And we’re always on a budget, right EB? 

Access Just About Every Windows Setting In One Place with GodMode
Windows 10 / Windows 11

It seems that with every “newer and better” Windows version, the more difficult it is to find the most important settings.

Windows 11, like Windows 10, attempts to simplify things using a stylish “Settings” menu, which appears to be trying to cancel out the trusty old Control Panel. But not so fast! The Control Panel still contains a host of important options.

We wish we could rename GodMode to something else, but we can’t as Windows 11 (as of now) will not show the correct icon unless it’s called GodMode. But take heart, GodMode is a game mode where the gamer has the power to walk through walls – etc. Regardless of its name, GodMode gives you easy access to almost every Windows 10 or Windows 11 setting.

While you can create a shortcut to GodMode anywhere, we think it’s best to create the shortcut on the desktop since it will be more accessible. GodMode is more than a shortcut, it’s a special “magic” folder.

Here’s how to create a God Mode shortcut in Windows 10 or Windows 11

1. Create a new folder on your desktop (Right-click on an empty space on your desktop and click “New” then “Folder”.

2. Right-click on the newly created folder, choose “Rename” and rename it – exactly as below.

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

(On Windows 11, you’ll have to click “See more options” to find “Rename” or simply press the Windows key + F2 to rename the folder.  We also recommend you copy the GodMode folder name and then paste it as the folder name.)

3. When you’re done, you’ll have an icon on your desktop that looks like this – yes looks like a Control Panel icon.

When you click it, you can access almost any Windows setting. Here are some screenshots from Windows 11:

And here’s one from Windows 10…

And there are a lot more settings than we show here. A virtual plethora of settings – all available to you when you empower yourself with GodMode.

If you want to see almost every setting available in GodMode, take a look at this page.

Want more tips, tricks, and information?

We have thousands of Windows tips, tricks, and more on our InfoAve website.

Subscribe to our free InfoAve Daily newsletter.

The Best Computer Care and Repair - Anywhere!

We can fix your computer while you watch. You never have to leave your home. Just sit back, relax, and watch us work. Get PC service from folks you trust at the best prices you'll find anywhere.

Get more information here.

Take Control of Your Finances with This Cloudeight Site Pick

No one knows more about being poor than someone poor – like me! I grovel around waiting for EB to pay me, living paycheck to paycheck…trying to exist on the pittance she pays me. So, being broke, I have learned to make the most of the pennies I earn. I use the best resources I can find to optimize my meager income so I can afford things like say Aldi brand Cornflakes and canned spaghetti.

OK so maybe I’m exaggerating, but why can’t I wile away the days on a yacht in St. Thomas, like EB? Why? Because life is not fair that’s why. And because I’m broke I have found some internet resources that help me get the most bang for the buck.

It’s called The Penny Hoarder and on its website, you find that everything is broken down into categories like:

Make Money
Save Money
Budgeting
Debt
Retirement
Credit Cards
Bank Accounts
Investing
Home Buying
Taxes
Insurance

Here are some of the articles on The Penny Hoarder’s front page…

116 Places That Will Give You Free Stuff on Your Birthday

Budget Airlines: Snag Cheap Tickets But Watch Out for Hidden Fees

Want More Money in 2024? Try a No-Spend Challenge

What Happens to Your Debt When You Die?

25 Tips for How to Save Money if Your Paycheck Is Stretched Thin

Life Insurance for Seniors: Is the Coverage Worth the Cost?

7  Ways to Squeeze More Money Out of Social Security for Life

The 11 Best Budgeting Apps to Get Your Finances Together

Now it’s time to bring in The Penny Hoarder’s brain trust to tell you more about their website…

Founded in 2010, The Penny Hoarder is one of the nation’s largest personal finance websites. Its purpose is to help people take control of their personal finances and make smart money decisions by sharing actionable articles and resources on how to earn, save and manage money. For three consecutive years, the Inc 500/5000 has ranked The Penny Hoarder one of the fastest-growing private media companies in America.

The Penny Hoarder envisions a world where there is less money stress. The Penny Hoarder’s mission is to empower people to make smart choices with their money.

So, if you’re not rich, and you want to make the most of your money, you’ll want to visit The Penny Hoarder. It’s a great site – and it’s a Cloudeight Site Pick!